By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – AN Edo State House of Assembly candidate for Esan West constituency of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and former students union president of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Rev Olu Martins on Monday called on the leadership of the party to ensure that the Edo Central Senatorial candidate, John Yakubu is victorious in the 2027 election.

In an open letter, Martins also called on the National Leader of the party, Sen. Seriaki Dickson to ensure the other House Representative positions in the area are spread among existing traditional and historical sharing arrangements.

The open letter said it was a privilege for the people of Edo Central to have the National Leader of the party from their same geo-political zone and would expect him to join them in working for the victory of the NDC.

Part of the letter reads that “Politics they say is local so we are privileged as Edo people to have our National leader hail from our geopolitical zone.

“As an Esan man and the bonafide candidate of the NDC for the Esan West Constituency of the Edo State House of Assembly in the forthcoming elections, winning is important to me and winning we will.

“It is on the above premise that myself and several other Esan sons of our great party cued behind Hon John Yakubu to fly the ticket of the party for the Edo Central Senatorial district.”

He said John Yakubu “is on ground and adept with the politics of Edo State and the Edo Central Senatorial district.

“He is loved and down-to-earth naturally currying the favour of many Edo State indigenous people of Esan extraction.

“For balance and equity, whilst John Yakubu remains our choice, the house of Representative ticket must move to the other local governments who share rights of exchange and representation with Esan North East, the home local government of John Yakubu.

“It would be politically injurious to leave a whole local government void of electoral representation when the practice has been to oscillate electoral offices between Esan North East (Uromi) and Esan South East ( Ubiaja).”

He said it would be disadvantageous for the people of the Senatorial district who are determined to do whatever is legitimately needed to win the election if the imbalance is not corrected.

“We love your doggedness mixed with compassion but as an old hand in the game we are sure that you also understand the necessity of a delicate balance which ensures a sense of belonging for all.

“Borrowing the ‘Aburi we stand’ stance of Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, let me end by saying, ‘on John Yakubu we stand’.”